TEHRAN (FNA)- Syrian government officials sat face-to-face with Syrian opposition groups for the second time in three weeks in Astana, Kazakhstan, as diplomats step up their efforts to reconcile the two sides ahead of UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

Thursday's meeting is aimed at shoring up a ceasefire before the government meets with representatives of the opposition groups in Geneva on Feb. 23, for talks aimed at reaching a broader political settlement, Star Tribune reported.

Meanwhile Syrian pro-government forces and thier allies were clashing with militant groups in the Dara'a Province in Southern Syria. Local sources confirmed that an al-Qaida-linked militant group attacked government forces Sunday, shattering an extended spell of calm in the contested region.

There have been repeated violations of the ceasefire by the militant groups since it went into effect on Dec. 30.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Regiment “Mahavir al-Bahr” (Naval commanders), which works in coordination with the Syrian army, has trained new volunteer forces who will take part in army operations in protection of Syria from terrorists. [VIDEO]

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pro-Syrian government Fighters have begun entering the Kurdish-dominated region of Afrin on Tuesday, to prevent any possible escalation between Turkish army and the Kurdish militants. [VIDEO]

TEHRAN (FNA)- Authorities in Paris are bracing themselves for major flooding risks over fears the River Seine could swell to nearly 20 feet overnight. More than 200 French towns are struggling against floodwaters that have halted boat traffic in the capital, closed roads and schools and prompted the evacuation of hospitals. [PHOTOS]

TEHRAN (FNA)- Yet again the United States and its NATO allies have given the greenlight to the authoritarian regime in Bahrain to sentence another prominent human rights activist to many years in prison.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Wednesday underlined his country's preparedness to transfer its anti-terrorism experiences to Azerbaijan.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The US Air Force is switching to less-vulnerable intelligence systems in an apparent shift towards fighting Russia and China. Astronomically-priced spy planes will be replaced by cheaper sensor networks.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday the Russian Foreign Ministry does not rule out tit-for-tat measures in response to possible US sanctions against 13 Russians over alleged meddling in the US presidential election.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Israeli soldiers abducted Wednesday two Palestinian teenage boys, and a journalist, after the army attacked dozens of protesters near Ofer military base and prison, West of Ramallah, in central West Bank.